Tatkal reservation period reduced to 24 hours

New Delhi: Plagued by increasing number of complaints in Tatkal booking scheme, the Railways today decided to reduce the advance reservation period of the scheme from two days to one day.

Besides, the restriction for agents will be extended from one hour to two hours (8 am to 10 am) and there will be no refund on confirmed Tatkal tickets subject to the exceptions such as cancellation of trains and late running trains.

"It was necessary to make changes in Tatkal scheme as there were many complaints against Tatkal bookings. We had to take some steps to prevent its misuse. All these changes will be effective within a week," Railway Minister Dinesh Trivedi told reporters.

Tatkal tickets shall be sold only on production of the identity proof and there shall be only four passengers per PNR for Tatkal tickets.

Mr Trivedi said Tatkal reservation period was reduced from 48 hours to 24 hours to prevent its misuse by unscrupulous elements who resort to speculative booking.

According to the changed system, no duplicate Tatkal tickets shall be issued now and it would be done only in exceptional cases on payment of full fare including Tatkal charges.

"We are also planning to introduce a whistle-blower scheme to catch hold of touts who are indulging in misusing of reservation facilities. We are also installing CCTV in the booking area to keep a vigil at the counters," Trivedi said.